Hand-propelled boat



Sept. 14,1926. I 1,600,084

J. G. ADOLPH HAND PROPELLED BOAT Filed May 14, 1925 Patented Sept. 14, 1925.

JOSEPH GUSTAVE ADOLPH, IVIULHOUSE, FRANGE. I

HAND-PROPELLEI) BOAT.

Application filed May 14, 1925, Serial No. 30,372, and in France July 15, 1924.

The present invention relates to an improved boat propelled by means of paddlewheels operated by hand by the user. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be further described with the aid of the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the hand-propelled boat according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the said boat,

Figure 3 is an axial section through a disengageable coupling between two cranks by means of which the paddle-wheels are driven,

Figure l is a cross-section taken on the line &4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a modified form of the said coupling.

Referring to the said drawing, a paddle wheel 5 or b is arranged on each side of the hull a of the boat. These paddle-wheels are driven by the user of the boat through the medium of two cranks g and 9 connected to the respective inner ends of the two sections of a shaft 0 of which the outer ends carry the paddle-wheels b and b and which is supported in bearings (Z1 and d fixed to the sides of the hull a. The crank pins of the cranks g and g have tubular handgrips e and e mounted thereon, ball bearings being interposed between said crank pins and the said hand-grips. The two cranks are connected by means of a disengageable coupling 7, in such manner that when the said coupling is in the engaged position both paddle-wheels are rotated together by operating the two cranks g and 40 9 while when such coupling is in the disengaged position each paddle-wheel may be driven independently from the other for the purpose of causingthe boat to turn to the right or to the left respectively, i. e. for

steering the craft.

In the form of coupling illustrated by Figures 3 and 4 the two members of the coupling consist respectively of a hollow cy' lindrical member Z integral at one end with one of the cranks (g and open at the other end, and of a j ournal-like member c integral with the adjacent side of the other crank (9 and which engages and is axially slidable in the hollow cylindrical member Z, the said journal-like member 2' being at its free end provided with three pins h capable of engaging corresponding recesses k formed in the closed end of the hollow cylindrical member Z. For bringing the coupling in position of engagement, the pins h are inserted in the recesses 70 by bringing the two cranks gand g closer to each other, and for disengaging the coupling, the pins h are caused to slide out of the said recesses 70 by moving the two cranks g and g away from each other.

In the modified form of coupling illustrated by Fig. 5, one of the cranks (9 is on its side nearer the other crank provided with an integral hollow sleeve 39 in which is slidably inserted a cylindrical member m integral with the adjacent side of such other 1 crank (9 and the said sleeve 79 carries a radially slidable pin 0 subjected at its outer end to the-action of a coil spring and which is by means of a screwed cap pressed into engagement with a longitudinal groove n cut in the aforesaid cylindrical member m. This groove has sloping ends so that by moving the two cranks g and g away from each other, the pin 0 may be caused to come out of engagement with the said groove n so that the sleeve 10 and the cylindrical member m may be rotated independently of each other. The extent to which the cranks g and may be moved away from each other for the purpose of disengaging the coupling f is suit-ablylimited by means of collars g and Q2 provided close to said cranks on the respective sections of the shaft 0 and which, when the two cranks are moved away from each other come to bear against the inner faces of the bearings 6Z aid 0?. Protectorplates 7' and r secured to the sides of the hull a are provided to protect the user of the boat against the spray caused by the paddle-wheels b and b I claim In ahand-propelled boat, the combination with a hull of two lateral paddle-wheels, two alined shaft-sections carrying at their outer ends the respective paddle-wheels and supported in bearings fixed to the sides of the hull, a driving crank connected to the inner end of each of said shaft-sections, and disengageable coupling means between the two cranks, said means including a hollow cylindrical member integral at one end with one ofsaid cranks and open at the other end and a journal-like member, integral with the adjacent side of the other crank, slidably engaging in the hollow cylindrical member of the first-named crank and provided at its free end with pins capable of engaging corresponding recesses formed in the closed end of the said hollow cylindrical member. 10 In testimony whereof I sign hereunto my name.

J. A. GUSTAVE! 

